allAfrica.com Mail & Guardian, Johannesburg


University Closed Over Riot Fears

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
NEWS
January 23, 2004
Posted to the web January 23, 2004

By Standard Team
Nairobi

Egerton University was yesterday closed following student unrest in both the main and Laikipia campuses.

The students had spent a restive week after lecturers continued to stay away from class.

A circular dated January 21, which announced the closure of the university was circulated to students yesterday morning.

Students in the main campus at Njoro left without creating any ugly scenes but their counterparts at Laikipia Campus broke into a cash office.

Riot police, however, intervened and drove them away.

The students have been idle following the lecturers' strike that has persisted even after the work boycott was called off by the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu).

The circular, signed by Academic Registrar Prof Nephat Kathuri, said the decision to close the university was taken following failure by lecturers to resume classes.

But sources said it was meant to avert a confrontation between the students and Education minister Prof George Saitoti, who was set to open an international seminar at the university.

 
 

Copyright © 2003 The East African Standard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).